Throughout the year, there are countless health observances that raise awareness for a variety of conditions (both big and small) and also remind consumers to be proactive and stay on top of their health. These days or months are often celebrated by hospitals, healthcare nonprofits, patients, media, and social influencers.
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Birth Defects Awareness Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Days to Note:
World Leprosy Day; January 30
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) / Low Vision Awareness Month
International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
National Cancer Prevention Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week; February 7 – 14
Heart Failure Awareness Week; February 12 – 20
Sepsis Survivor Week; February 14 – 20
National Condom Week; February 14 – 21
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week; February 21 – 27
Days to Note:
World Cancer Day; February 4
National Wear Red Day; February 4
Give Kids A Smile ® Day; February 5
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; February 7
Toothache Day; February 9
National Donor Day; February 14
National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day; February 22
Rare Disease Day 2023; February 28
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week; March 8 – 14
Patient Safety Awareness Week; March 13 – 19
National Sleep Awareness Week; March 14 – 20
National Poison Prevention Week; March 14 – 20
Brain Awareness Week; March 14 – 20
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week; March 21 – 27
Days to Note:
World Birth Defects Day; March 3
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; March 10
World Kidney Day 2023; March 10
World Sleep Day; March 18
National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; March 20
World Oral Health Day; March 20
World Down Syndrome Day; March 21
World Tuberculosis Day; March 24
American Diabetes Alert Day; March 26
Epilepsy Awareness – Purple Day; March 26
National Doctors’ Day; March 30
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month
National Autism Awareness Month
National Facial Protection Month
National Interprofessional Healthcare Month
National Minority Health Month
National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Weeks to Note:
National Public Health Week – Healthiest Nation 2023; April 1 – 7
Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week; April 11 – 16
National Pediatric Transplant Week; April 18 – 24
Pediatric Sepsis Week; April 18 – 24
National Infertility Awareness Week; April 21 – 27
World Immunization Week; April 22 – 28
Every Kid Healthy Week; April 25 – 29
Patient Experience Week; April 25 – 29
National Infant Immunization Week; April 26 – May 2
Days to Note:
World Autism Awareness Day; April 2
World Health Day 2023; April 7
National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day; April 10
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day; April 15
Annual National Healthcare Decisions Day; April 16
World Hemophilia Day; April 17
World Meningitis Day; April 24
DNA Day 2023; April 25
World Malaria Day 2023; April 25
World Day for Safety and Health at Work; April 28
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Stroke Awareness Month
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness Month
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week; May 1 – 7
National Physical Education and Sport Week; May 1 – 7
North American Occupational Safety and Health Week; May 2 – 8
Air Quality Awareness Week; May 3 – 7
National Nurses Week; May 6 – 12
National Hospital Week; May 9 – 15
Maternal Sepsis Week; May 9 – 15
Food Allergy Awareness Week; May 9 – 15
National Women’s Health Week; May 9 – 15
National Stuttering Awareness Week; May 10 – 15
Days to Note:
World Asthma Day; May 4
World Hand Hygiene Day; May 5
International No Diet Day; May 6
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day; May 7
National Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness; May 8
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day; May 8
National Student Nurses Day; May 8
National School Nurse Day; May 11
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day; May 12
International Nurses Day; May 12
World AIDS Vaccine Day 2023; May 18
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day; May 18
National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; May 19
World Autoimmune/Auto-inflammatory Arthritis Day; May 20
Don’t Fry Day; May 21
National Senior Health & Fitness Day; May 27
World No Tobacco Day; May 31
Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
National Aphasia Awareness Month
National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month
National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
National Scleroderma Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
Men’s Health Week; June 13 – 19
Helen Keller Def-Blind Awareness Week; June 21 – 27
Days to Note:
National Cancer Survivors Day; June 6
World Brain Tumor Day; June 8
Family Health and Fitness Day; June 11
World Blood Donor Day; June 14
Autistic Pride Day; June 18
World Sickle Cell Day; June 19
World Vitiligo Day; June 25
National HIV Testing Day; June 27
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month
Days to Note:
World Hepatitis Day; July 28
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Digestive Tract Paralysis Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
World Breastfeeding Week; August 1 – 7
National Health Center Week; August 7 – 13
Contact Lens Health Week;August 19 – 23
Days to Note:
World Lung Cancer Day; August 1
International Overdose Awareness Day; August 31
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
National ITP (Platelet Disorder) Awareness Month
National Pediculosis Prevention Month/Head Lice Prevention Month
Newborn Screening Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Month
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
National Suicide Prevention Week; September 5 – 11
National Folic Acid Awareness Week; September 12-18
Malnutrition Awareness Week; September 19 – 23
Global ITP Awareness Week; September 20-24
Falls Prevention Awareness Week; September 20-24
Fungal Disease Awareness Week; September 20-24
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week; September 20 – 26
Days to Note:
World Sexual Health Day; September 4
World Suicide Prevention Day; September 10
World Sepsis Day; September 13
National Celiac Disease Awareness Day; September 13
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day; September 18
Get Ready for Flu Day; September 21
World Alzheimer’s Day; September 21
Sport Purple for Platelets Day; September 24
World Lung Day; September 25
Mesothelioma Awareness Day; September 26
World Rabies Day; September 28
National Women’s Health and Fitness Day; September 29
World Heart Day; September 29
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
Mental Illness Awareness Week; October 3 – 9
National Primary Care Week; October 4 – 8
National PA Week; October 6 – 12
Bone and Joint Health Action Week; October 12 – 20
International Infection Prevention Week; October 17 – 23
National Healthcare Quality Week; October 17 – 23
National Health Education Week; October 18 – 22
Red Ribbon Week; October 23 – 31
Respiratory Care Week; October 24 – 30
Days to Note:
Child Health Day; October 3
World Cerebral Palsy Day; October 6
National Depression Screening Day; October 7
World Mental Health Day; October 10
International Day of the Girl; October 11
Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day; October 13
World Sight Day; October 13
Global Handwashing Day; October 15
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day; October 15
World Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day; October 15
World Food Day; October 16
National Mammography Day; October 21
World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day; October 19
World Osteoporosis Day; October 20
National Check Your Meds Day; October 21
International Stuttering Awareness Day; October 22
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day; October 24
World Psoriasis Day; October 29
World Hypophosphatasia Day; October 30
Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
National Epilepsy Awareness Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Home Care & Hospice Month
National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Weeks to Note:
National Diabetes Education Week; November 6 – 12
National Radiologic Technology Week; November 7-13
National Nurse Practitioner Week; November 13 – 19
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Week; November 23 – 29
Days to Note:
National Diabetes Heart Connection Day; November 9
World Pneumonia Day; November 12
World Diabetes Day; November 14
World Prematurity Day 2023; November 17
Great American Smokeout; November 19
National Family Health History Day; November 25
National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Weeks to Note:
National Handwashing Awareness Week; December 5 – 11
National Influenza Vaccination Week; December 5 – 11
Days to Note:
World AIDS Day; December 1
International Day of Persons with Disability; December 3